Mass or bulk forming dispenser cap for pressure cans

ABSTRACT

A one-piece molded plastic dispenser cap for discharging and collecting foam-producing pressurized substance. The cap comprises a shell-like body having annular concentric inner and outer walls arranged to movably mount the cap on the valvecarrying end closure of a pressurized container for limited axial movement thereon between non-discharging and discharging positions. A hollow boss of the body frictionally fits over the valve stem of the container to provide for actuation of the stem when a discharge is to be effected. The cap body has a concave or recessed transverse top wall which joins together the concentric inner and outer walls and also the hollow boss and which has an opening that communicates with the bore of the boss. Actuation of the cap is effected by placing the palm of the hand over the hollow of the transverse wall, and pressing the cap inward thereby. Vent passages in the form of notches are provided at the periphery of the transverse top wall, to vent air therefrom as the cap is being pressed inward by the palm and as pressurized product from the container is introduced into the hollow of the wall from the valve stem. Such pressurized product is of the foam-producing type which quickly fills the hollow of the wall and thereby forms a relatively large, accessible mass that can thus easily be removed. The product mass, for example, can contain ingredients which result in a hot foam-type shaving lather, or other end products can be had to serve various purposes where a foam-type mass has utility.

United States Patent 1191 Beres et al.

, [45] July 10, 1973 MASS 0R BULK FORMING DISPENSER CAP [57] ABSTRACTFOR PRESSURE CANS A one-piece molded plastic dispenser cap for discharg-[75] Inventors: Steven W. Beres, Bridgeport; Wolf g and collecting f 'pfl Pressurized t i F i fi ld b h of C0nn stance. The cap comprises ashelHike body having annular concentric inner and outer walls arrangedto [73] Asslgnee2 VCA Cm'poramm, Greenwwh movably mount the cap on thevalve-carrying end clo- Conn' sure of a pressurized container forlimited axial move- 22 F June 13, 1971 ment thereon betweennon-discharging and dischargingpositions. A hollow boss of the bodyfrictionally fits [21] APP! 154,340 over the valve stem of the containerto provide for actuation of the stem when adischarge is to be effected.52] us. (:1. 222 205, 222 402.13 The p y has a concave or recessedtransverse p [51] Int. Cl 865d 83/14 Wall which joins together thewncehtric inner and [58] Field of Search 222/205, 402.1, 402.13, Outerwalls and also the hollow boss and which has 811 222 537; 2 225 249; 401190 2 4 opening that communicates with the bore of the boss. Actuationof the cap is effected by placing thepalm of 55 R f es Cited the handover the hollow of the transverse wall, and Q UNITED STATES ATENTSpressing the cap inward thereby. Vent passages in the 3 203 454 8/1965 Mn f 222,205 x form of notches are provided at the periphery of the3'001524 9/1961 /402 3 X transverse top wall, to vent air therefrom asthe cap is 3012555 12/1961 Mzshber 222/402'l3 x being pressed inward bythe palm and as pressurized 3 358 882 12/1967 Mathison 222/189 x P tfrom the Contaiher is introduced into the 3:589:570 0 1971 Gach222/40213 low/0f the Wall from valve Steth- Such Pressurized product isof the foam-producing type which quickly FOREIGN PATENTS B PPuCATIONSfills the hollow of the wall and thereby forms a rela- 1 490,023. 8/1938Great Britain 128/249 tively large accessible mass ha can thus easily be1,129,213 9/1956 France 222/205 moved. h product mass, for p g, containP E R b B R gredients which result in a hot foam-type shaving "7"" 0eaves 1 lather, or other end products can be had to serve varijjf' f'Z'QS T E Handle ous purposes where a foam-type mass has utility.

0rney- 1 net e mann 1 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 42. 45 34 U 40 s t 551 o 52 s b I 1 g 1 y I 25 "a h i r1 an r n. 5; 1 l I! l a \I v \1 i 4 74/g 1 I Z0 1 s l l i g l. 1 /5 I MASS OR BULK FORMING DISPENSER CAP FORPRESSURE CANS BACKGROUND This invention relates to pressurized aerosolor other small, hand-held dispensers, and more particularly to a moldedplastic cap for such dispensers. It has been common practice in the pastto discharge hot shaving lather directly from a nozzle orifice into thehand. Cold lather, skin creams and the like have been likewise dispensedinto the hand, in each case from the orifice or opening of a nozzlepart. This prior procedure presented a number of problems or drawbacks.The pressurized, foamy or creamy product often dropped from the fingersonto the floor, causing a messy condition. Or, the somewhat great lengthof the nozzle would stay filled or partly filled with product after adischarge, causing clogging of the passage and deterioration of thedispensed cream, foam, or other substance. Also, this priorprocedurenecessitated frequent actuation of the dispenser cap and valve, and noindication could be had as to quantity if a fixed amount was specifiedin the directions. Often there resulted a loss or wastage of theproduct, in addition to an inconvenience of handling.

SUMMARY vision of a molded plastic dispenser cap in the form of.

a shell-like body which has concentric inner and outer annular walls anda central hollow boss all structurally connected to enable the body tobe supported for limited axial movement on a valve-carrying end closureof ,a pressurized can. The shell-like body also has a recessed orconcave transverse top wall which joins together the concentric annularwalls and also the central hollow boss, and which is so arranged thatthe hollow of the top wall communicates with the bore of the bosstoreceive the discharging product therefrom. When a depressing force isapplied to the cap body, as by pressing with the palm of the handcovering the hollow top wall, it depresses the valve stem to effect adischarge of the foam-producing substance into the hollow of the wall.Vent passages or notcheslocated at the periphery of the top wall providefor the venting of air as the hollow of the wall fills with thefoam-producing substance. The concave top wall thus contains, shapes andcollects the pressurized cream or foam substance into an accessible masswhich can then be conveniently removed at will by the user. When thedischarge is to be terminated, the palm of the hand is immediatelyremoved from the hollow of the top wall of the'cap, making the productaccessible and available in quantity or as a large mass.

A related object of the invention is to provide an improved mass-formingdispenser cap as above set forth, which is especially simple in itsconstruction, inexpensive to produce, and effective and reliable in itsoperation.

Still other features and advantages will hereinafter appears In theaccompanying drawings bodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the improved massforming dispenser cap asprovided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the dispensercap, taken on the line22 of FIG. 1, this figure also showing portions of a pressurizedcontainer carrying the dispenser cap in the non-discharging; position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser cap.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showingdispenser inverted and the cap in thedischarging position wherein a massof product is being formed and collected in the hollow transverse wallthereof.

Referring now particularly to the figures, the massforming andcollecting dispenser cap of the invention comprises a shell-like bodydesignated generally by the numeral 10, having an annular outer wall 12terminating at the bottom rim 14 which is adapted to engage peripheralshoulder portions 16 of a pressurized container or can 18. The body 10has bearing portions disposed within the annular outer wall, in the formof a concentric annular inner wall 20 provided with a plurality ofthrough cuts 22, said inner wall being engageable with cooperablesurfaces 24 of a valve-carrying end closure 26 for the container, tosupport the body 10 thereon for limited axial movement.

The body 10 further has a central hollow boss 28 located inwardly of thebearing portions or wall 20, said boss being adapted to receive andfriction-ally, seize the projecting end 30 of a conventional depressiblehollow valve stem 32 which is movably carried by the closure 26, therebyto effect the depressing, productdischarging movement of the stem 32when downward force is applied to the body 10.

In accordance with the present invention, the body 10 is provided with arecessed transverse top wall 34 which joins together the annular outerwall 12, the V inner annular wall 20 and the central boss 28. The boreof the boss 28 communicates with the hollow of the transverse top wall34, this being effected by the provision of a short passage 36 providedin the center of the wall 34 and communicating with the bore 38 of thevalve stem 32. As shown, the passage 36 has adiameter which is smallerthan that of the boss 28 and commensurate with that of the bore 38, suchconstruction providing an internal annular shoulder 40 which constitutesa stop to position the projecting end part 30 of the stem.

The body 10 is, in accordance with the invention, provided with ventmeans at the periphery of the transverse top wall 34 to vent air as thepalm of the handapplies force to the cap and as the hollow of the wallfills with the cream or foam product which is being discharged throughthe hollow valve stem 32. In the illus trated embodiment of theinvention, the vent means comprises notches 42 in the periphery of thetop wall 34.

As seen in FIG. 2, thebearing means orinner wall 20 of the cap isslidable on the inner surface .24 of the end closure 26 of thepressurized can. Normally the cap 10 is maintained in a raised,non-discharging position under the action of the valveretum spring (notshown) conventionallyprovided in the container 18 and actingillustrating one emon the valve stem 32 to normally bias the latter tothe raised, non-discharging or closed position.

The container 28 can be provided with a pressurized foam-producing orcreamed foam substance; or it can contain any desired formulation whichis best collected or shaped in a sizeable mass before being used.

Referring to FIG. 4, the operation of the dispenser cap is as follows:With the dispenser inverted, upward or inward pressure is used on thecap by applying the palm 46 of the hand in the manner indicated, to spanthe concave top wall 34. The cap body will shift upward or inward aslight extent, depressing the valve stem 32 to enable a discharge of thepressurized product to be effected through the stem from the pressurizedcontainer 18. Such product will pass through the stem bore 38 andthrough the communicating passage 36 into the hollow of the transversetop wall 34. Meanwhile, air is being vented through the passages ornotches 42 at the periphery of the top wall. The hollow of the wall 34quickly fills with the discharged substance, which forms into a shapedfoam or sponge-like mass designated 44 in FIG. 4. When the product hasfilled the hollow of the top wall 34, depressing pressure is removedfrom the cap 10 by removing the palm, thus terminating the dischargethrough the valve stem 32. The creamy or foamy product 44 is seen tohave a sizeable bulk, and can now be readily withdrawn from the hollowof the wall 34.

It will be noted from FIG. 4 that the bottom rim 14 of thecap 10 canengage the sides or even the bottom of the shoulder 16 of the containerto steady or stabilize the cap when it is being depressed, and this isan advantageous feature of the invention in that it prevents distortionor bending of the valve stem, or malfunctioning of the latter and of thecap during the discharging oper ation.

It will now be readily understood from the foregoing that we haveprovided a novel and improved mass or bulk-forming or shaping dispensercap for discharging, collecting and shaping foam-producing or creamy orother substance or product, which cap can be readily applied to existingpressurized containers or cans and which effectively collects and shapesthe discharging product. The cap as provided by the invention isespecially simple in its construction, and can be quickly andeconomically molded all in one piece, of plastic material. The cap iseasily applied to the pressurized container, and is especially reliablein operation to produce the desired collected and shaped orbulk-available product.

Variations and modifications are possible without'departing from thespirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A mass-forming dispenser cap for discharging and collecting afoam-producing, pressurized substance, comprising in combination:

a. a shell-like body having an annular outer wall with a bottom rimadapted to engage the peripheral shoulder portions of a pressurizedcontainer,

b. said body having bearing portions disposed within the annular outerwall and engageable with cooperable surfaces of a valve-carrying endclosure ofthe contianer, for supporting the body for limited axialmovement thereon,

c. said body having a central hollow boss located inwardly of thebearing portions to receive and frictionally seize the projecting end ofa depressible hollow valve stem on the closure, thereby to effectdepressing product-discharging movement of the stem when downward forceis applied to the body,

d. said body having a recessed, expansive transverse top wall joiningtogether the annular outer wall, the said bearing portions and thecentral boss,

e. the bore of the central boss communicating with the hollow of the topwall whereby pressurized product which is being discharged through thevalve stem is deposited in said hollow of the wall and collectedthereby,

f. said body having a plurality of vent passages at the periphery of thetransverse top wall to vent air as the hollow of the wall fills with thesaid discharging product.

2. A dispenser cap as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the transverse top wall has a co'ncavo-convex configuration.

3. A dispenser cap as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the hollow top wall has a passage of smaller diameter than andcoaxial with the bore of the central boss, which provides thecommunication between said bore and the hollow of the wall,

b. said passage diameter being of the same order of magnitude as thebore in the valve stem which is receivable in the boss.

4. A mass-forming dispenser cap for discharging and collecting afoam-producing, pressurized substance, comprising in combination:

a. a shell-like body having an annular outer wall with a bottom rimadapted to engage the peripheral shoulder portions of a pressurizedcontainer,

b. said body having bearing portions disposed within the annular outerwall and engageable with cooperable surfaces of a valve-carrying endclosure of the container, for supporting the body for limited axialmovement thereon,

c. said body having a central hollow boss located inwardly of thebearing portions to receive and frictionally seize the projecting end ofa depressible hollow valve stem on the closure, thereby to effectdepressing product-discharging movement of the stem when downward forceis applied to the body,

d. said body having a recessed, expansive transverse top wall joiningtogether the annular outer wall, the said bearing portions and thecentral boss,

e. the bore of the central boss communicating with the hollow of the topwall whereby pressurized product which is being discharged through thevalve stem is deposited in said hollow of the wall and collectedthereby,

f. said body having vent passages at the periphery of the transverse topwall to vent air as the hollow of the wall fills with the saiddischarging product,

g. said vent passages comprising notches in the periphery of the topwall.

5. A mass-forming dispenser cap for discharging and collecting afoam-producing, pressurized substance, comprising in combination:

a. a shell-like body having an annular outer wall with a bottom rimadapted to engage the peripheral shoulder portions of a pressurizedcontainer,

b. said body having bearing portions disposed within the annular outerwall and engageable with cooperable surfaces of a valve-carrying endclosure of the container, for supporting the body for limited axialmovement thereon,

c. said body having a central hollow boss located invalve stem isdeposited in said hollow of the wall wardly of the bearing portions toreceive and fricand collected thereby, tionally seize the projecting endof a depressible f. said body having vent passages at the periphery ofhollow valve stem on the closure, thereby to effect the transverse topwall to vent air as the hollow of depressing product-dischargingmovement of the 5 the wall fills with the said discharging product, stemwhen downward force is applied to the body, g. the bearing portions ofthe body comprising an and. said body having a recessed, expansivetransverse nular inner wall concentrically disposed within said top walljoining together the annular outer wall, the annular outer wall, saidbearing portions and the central boss, h. said inner wallhaving aplurality of cuts to enable e. the bore of the central bosscommunicating with 10 it to yield when in engagement with the cooperablethe hollow of the top wall whereby pressurized surfaces of the endclosure. product which is being discharged through the

1. A mass-forming dispenser cap for discharging and collecting afoam-producing, pressurized substance, comprising in combination: a. ashell-like body having an annular outer wall with a bottom rim adaptedto engage the peripheral shoulder portions of a pressurized container,b. said body having bearing portions disposed within the annular outerwall and engageable with cooperable surfaces of a valve-carrying endclosure of the container, for supporting the body for limited axialmovement thereon, c. said body having a central hollow boss locatedinwardly of the bearing portions to receive and frictionally seize theprojecting end of a depressible hollow valve stem on the closure,thereby to effect depressing product-discharging movement of the stemwhen downward force is applied to the body, d. said body having arecessed, expansive transverse top wall joining together the annularouter wall, the said bearing portions and the central boss, e. the boreof the central boss communicating with the hollow of the top wallwhereby pressurized product which is being discharged through the valvestem is deposited in said hollow of the wall and collected thereby, f.said body having a plurality of vent passages at the periphery of thetransverse top wall to vent air as the hollow of the wall fills with thesaid discharging product.
 2. A dispenser cap as in claim 1, wherein: a.the transverse top wall has a concavo-convex configuration.
 3. Adispenser cap as in claim 1, wherein: a. the hollow top wall has apassage of smaller diameter than and coaxial with the bore of thecentral boss, which provides the communication between said bore and thehollow of the wall, b. said passage diameter being of the same order ofmagnitude as the bore in the valve stem which is receivable in the boss.4. A mass-forming dispenser cap for discharging and collecting afoam-producing, pressurized substance, comprising in combination: a. ashell-like body having an annular outer wall with a bottom rim adaptedto engage the peripheral shoulder portions of a pressurized container,b. said body having bearing portions disposed within the annular outerwall and engageable with cooperable surfaces of a valve-carrying endclosure of the container, for supporting the body for limited axialmovement thereon, c. said body having a central hollow boss locatedinwardly of the bearing portions to receive and frictionally seize theprojecting end of a depressible hollow valve stem on the closure,thereby to effect depressing product-discharging movement of the stemwhen downward force is applied to the body, d. said body having arecessed, expansive transverse top wall joining together the annularouter wall, the said bearing portions and the central boss, e. the boreof the central boss communicating with the hollow of the top wallwhereby pressurized product which is being discharged through the valvestem is deposited in said hollow of the wall and collected thereby, f.said body having vent passages at the periphery of the transverse topwall to vent air as the hollow of the wall fills with the saiddischarging product, g. said vent passages comprising notches in theperiphery of the top wall.
 5. A mass-forming dispenser cap fordischarging and collecting a foam-producing, pressurized substance,comprising in combination: a. a shell-like body having an annular outerwall with a bottom rim adapted to engage the peripheral shoulderportions of a pressurized container, b. said body having bearingportions disposed within the annular outer wall and engageable withcooperable surfaces of a valve-carrying end closure of the container,for supporting the body for limited axial movement thereon, c. said bodyhaving a central hollow boss located inwardly of the bearing portions toreceive and frictionally seize the projecting end of a depressiblehollow valve stem on the closure, thereby to effect depressingproduct-discharging movement of the stem when downward force is appliedto the body, d. said body having a recessed, expansive transverse topwall joining together the annular outer wall, the said bearing portionsand the central boss, e. the bore of the central boss communicating withthe hollow of the top wall whereby pressurized product which is beingdischarged through the valve stem is deposited in said hollow of thewall and collected thereby, f. said body having vent passages at theperiphery of the transverse top wall to vent air as the hollow of thewall fills with the said discharging product, g. the bearing portions ofthe body comprising an annular inner wall concentrically disposed withinsaid annular outer wall, h. said inner wall having a plurality of cutsto enable it to yield when in engagement with the cooperable surfaces ofthe end closure.